How to use mail merge in ms word 2003

A blast from the past! Mail merge is a powerful feature in Microsoft Word that allows you to combine a document with a data source, such as a database or a spreadsheet, to create multiple versions of the document with unique information. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use mail merge in MS Word 2003:

Step 1: Create a data source

• Open your data source, such as a spreadsheet (e.g., Excel) or a database (e.g., Access).
• Make sure the data is organized in a table format with each row representing a single record and each column representing a field (e.g., name, address, phone number).

Step 2: Create a mail merge document

• Open Microsoft Word 2003 and create a new document or open an existing one.
• Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Mail Merge" (or press Alt+F8).
• In the "Mail Merge" dialog box, select "Step-by-Step Mail Merge Wizard" and click "Next".

Step 3: Choose a document type

• In the "Mail Merge" dialog box, select the type of document you want to create (e.g., letters, envelopes, labels, or directories).
• Click "Next".

Step 4: Select a data source

• In the "Select Recipients" dialog box, select "Use an existing list" and then browse to your data source file (e.g., Excel spreadsheet or Access database).
• Click "Open" to select the data source.

Step 5: Preview and merge

• In the "Mail Merge" dialog box, click "Preview" to see a preview of the merged document.
• Review the preview to ensure the data is being merged correctly.
• Click "Merge" to create the merged documents.

Step 6: Save the merged documents

• In the "Merge" dialog box, select the location where you want to save the merged documents.
• Choose a file name and format (e.g.,.doc,.pdf).
• Click "Save" to save the merged documents.

Tips and Variations

• Use the "Insert Merge Field" button to insert fields from your data source into your document.
• Use the "Format" button to format the merged documents (e.g., change font, font size, or alignment).
• Use the "Edit Recipient List" button to edit the data source or add new records.
• Use the "Merge to New Document" option to create a new document for each merged record.

That's it! With these steps, you should be able to use mail merge in MS Word 2003 to create multiple versions of a document with unique information.